Barton twins, 13, are making the golf community do a double take

Submitted photo — Lucy, left, and Chloe Barton, of Frelinghuysen Township, both finished in the top 3 on the 2018 U.S. Kids North Jersey Spring Tour.

HERALD STAFF REPORTsports@njherald.com

Posted: Sep. 5, 2018 12:01 am

ALLAMUCHY TWP. -- Chloe and Lucy Barton are used to people looking at them and doing a double take. When you are identical twins, it comes with the territory.

The Barton sisters' territory, though, is on the golf course.

These days, the 13-year-old Frelinghuysen Township natives, who are eighth-graders at Pope John High School in Sparta, are making people do double takes because they are both quite successful on the golf course.

While their home course is Panther Valley Golf and Country Club in Allamuchy Township, where they are members with their parents Shelly and Mike Barton, they've spent the past few years playing in tournaments throughout the Northeast, and, in some cases, other tournaments farther away.

This summer they've each attained lofty heights.

Among their accomplishments this year are finishing in the top 3 on the 2018 U.S. Kids North Jersey Spring Tour, which consists of six tournaments.

Chloe shot an 89 in her final round and clinched first overall out of 19 girls in the 12-14 age division, while Lucy finished in third.

The pair also participated in other summer tournaments through the NJPGA, Hurricane and U.S. Kids Tours.

In the U.S. Kids Hudson Valley N.Y. Summer Tour, Lucy is on pace to clinch first place after shooting a 77 at Redhook.

On the U.S. Kids Hudson Valley N.Y.'s 2018 Summer Tour it's been Lucy's turn to set the pace in her 12-14 age group after an impressive 77 at Red Hook Golf Club in Red Hook, N.Y., while Chloe shot an 87 and is on track to finish second.

Additionally, Chloe and Lucy have competed among the competitive fields with longer yardages and a wider age range of 12 to 17 years old on the Peggy Kirk Bell, NJ PGA and Hurricane National Tours.

Thus far, Lucy shot an 87 on the Hurricane Tour at Architects Golf Club and Chloe shot an 89 in the NJ PGA at Clearbrook Golf Club.

In the spring, they finished a two-day U.S. Kids Regional Tournament at Golden Horseshoe in Williamsburg, Va., and earned a spot at the Caribbean Championship in the Dominican Republic in December. They also reached the second qualifier round for 2019's Drive, Chip and Putt Championship.

More success is yet to come, and they can thank their grandfather for getting them into the game of golf in the first place.

Initially, Shelly Barton was hoping that her daughters would get into competitive gymnastics, as she had, but it was clear that their interests soon enough were elsewhere.

The two began golfing when they were just 6 years old through the guidance -- and inspiration early on -- of their 91-year-old grandfather. William "Buzzy" Borie, or "Poppy" as the girls call him, was a club champion at Basking Ridge Country Club in the 1960s.

Borie continues to be the girls' biggest fan and supporter as he attends almost every one of their tournaments.

In fact, as a big thank you, Chloe gave her grandfather the "Caddy of the Year Award" after she became tour champion for the Spring North Jersey U.S. Kids Section.

Over the years, they've worked with PGA professional Ron Young, LPGA Teaching Professional Wendy Ferrara, PGA professional David Glenz of the David Glenz Golf Academy and Panther Valley head professional Dan McCarthy.

The sisters have also enriched their skills and mental game through various clinics such as the LPGA Girls Golf Nancy Lopez Golf camp in Asheville, N.C., The Annika Clinic at Trump National, and The LPGA Girls Golf Leadership Academy at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y.

At Panther Valley, they hone their skills playing two or three times a week, often with adult women, and sometimes with their parents. They also practice long hours on their short game as well as breaking down their overall game.

"They are two very hard working girls," McCarthy said. "They have a lot of potential."

Chloe feels her strength right now is her "irons and chipping," while Lucy says her strengths come with her "drives and chipping." Chloe "likes the competition and meeting new people" that comes with playing golf, and Lucy adds that "it is fun -- and you are outside all the time!"

Do they have their sisterly moments? Of course.

"I do get mad sometimes if Lucy is doing better than me," Chloe admitted with a smile. In fact, while they are often paired together in tournaments they prefer to be separated so that they aren't worrying about who is doing better than the other.

Being noticed is nothing new to the pair.

In 2016, the duo was featured on the Golf Channel and The Morning Drive Show that featured highlights of their golf career and aspirations. And when they are not playing golf, the two might get noticed for another reason -- they are actors.

While they both agree that golf comes first and that acting is a hobby, they do have some credits on their acting resume. They will be appearing in "The Other Two" on Comedy Central in January 2019 with Molly Shannon and Wanda Sykes. And they had parts in the movie, "Killer Clown Meets the Candyman."

Academically, the Barton twins are excellent students with straight As, and have a passion for science, math and are also exceptional in art.

They are unsure where their golf game will ultimately lead them, but their goal right now is to play on a major collegiate golf team after high school.